On May 28, 2007, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held talks in Hamburg with the EU 'Troika' foreign ministers including German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency.

Yang said at the meeting that strengthening China-Europe relations is a requirement for the development of both sides and is also in the fundamental and long-term interests of both sides. China is ready to make joint efforts with the EU to push forward their bilateral relations based on the agreements reached by the Chinese and EU leaders at their 9th summit in Helsinki last year. He expressed hope that both sides would look at the China-Europe relations from the strategic point of view, with better overall planning and more efforts to strengthen political mutual trust. Yang urged both sides to make sound preparations for their 10th summit to ensure it a success. The Chinese foreign minister also said that both sides should broaden their cooperation of mutual benefits, maintain the positive momentum of their economic relations and make sure that bilateral trade will grow in a sustained and balanced way. China and the EU should also promote political dialogue and consultations at various levels and strengthen coordination and cooperation on important global and regional issues, Yang said.

The EU leaders described China, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, as an important partner of the EU, saying the EU attaches great importance to developing ties with China and hopes to strengthen consultations on key issues. The EU is ready to advance the negotiations on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with China and promote the bilateral economic and trade relations. The EU leaders stressed that the EU is also ready to work with China in making full preparations for their 10th summit.

Yang also expressed his appreciation of the long-standing EU policy in adhering to the one-China principle and thanked the EU for its support at the World Health Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health on issues concerning Taiwan. The EU officials meanwhile reaffirmed that Europe will continue to abide by the one-China policy.

The two sides also discussed international issues including the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, the Iranian nuclear issue, the situation in the Middle East and climate change.

Following the talks, Yang Jiechi and the EU 'Troika' foreign ministers jointly attended a press conference, where they briefed about their views on the development of China-EU ties and took questions.

On the same day, Yang also met with European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner.